The Cardinals’ own backfield is getting a major overhaul in 2026, but the schedule is not doing them any favors.
Arizona will go into the season with James Conner back, Tyler Allgeier added in free agency and Jeremiyah Love arriving as the No. 3 overall pick. Even with that group in place, none of them landed among ESPN’s top running backs in a poll of coaches, executives and scouts.
What the Cardinals do have is a brutal slate of opposing ball-carriers. Of the top 10 backs ranked by ESPN, plus three honorable mentions, Arizona will run into six of them across eight games.
That list starts with some heavy hitters. The Cardinals are set to see No.
2 Jahmyr Gibbs of the Detroit Lions, No. 3 Saquon Barkley of the Philadelphia Eagles, No.
4 Christian McCaffrey of the San Francisco 49ers, No. 9 Ken Walker of the Kansas City Chiefs, No.
10 Breece Hall of the New York Jets and honorable mention Kyren Williams of the LA Rams.
The division matchups make the list even tougher. McCaffrey and Williams both play in the NFC West, which means Arizona gets each of them twice. The Cardinals and 49ers meet in Week 3 and again in Week 18, while the Rams games are set for Weeks 6 and 10.
The rest of the top-back gauntlet is spread across the schedule. Arizona hosts Gibbs in Week 5, Barkley in Week 13 and Hall in Week 15, while Walker comes to town in Week 11.
In Other News...
Cardinals Receivers May Not Benefit Equally From Mike LaFleurs New Offense
Mike LaFleurs first offseason in Arizona has pointed toward a familiar offensive shape, one that looks a lot like the system he used with the Rams. For the Cardinals receivers, that means the adjustment may not be about learning something entirely new so much as understanding how their roles will shift within it, and Michael Wilson has already signaled he expects to spend more time in run support and work more often from condensed split formations.
For Wilson, that kind of usage can be part of the job description in LaFleurs offense, but it also raises the question of how much room there will be for the wideouts to separate themselves in the passing game. The Cardinals are still sorting out how the personnel fits the scheme, and the early signs suggest not every receiver will be asked to do the same things, which makes the next layer of camp competition worth watching closely. [Read more 🡒]
James Conner Just Earned A Rare Honor Back Home
James Conners path has always carried a little extra weight, from his days at McDowell High School to a standout college run at Pitt and then on to becoming one of the Cardinals most respected players. Even after a season-ending injury, he remained part of Arizonas plans by restructuring his contract to stay with the team through 2026, a reminder of how much the organization values his presence on and off the field.
Back home, that appreciation is taking a more permanent form. McDowell is honoring Conner in a way that speaks to how far he has come and how much he means to the people who watched his journey from the start, adding another layer to a career defined by production, resilience and leadership. For Arizona, it also comes at a time when Conners future role has become a little more complicated, which makes the tribute feel even more notable. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Rookie QB Buzz Comes With One Big Problem For Collectors
The 2026 football card market is already taking shape around a draft class that does not offer the kind of obvious quarterback chase collectors usually flock to, which has pushed more attention toward rookie receivers and backs. Topps Flagship Football is set to arrive with that backdrop in mind, and the early buzz is centered on where the hobby might find its next big seller if the quarterback pool does not deliver a true headliner.
One of the names drawing the most conversation is Jeremiyah Love, whose landing spot gives collectors plenty to think about even before the first pack is opened. Arizonas backfield already has established pieces in place, so the appeal here is not just about draft capital or talent, but about how much room there really is for a rookie to break through in a crowded situation. [Read more 🡒]